High School Boys golf

Steiner beats out Little Lions for sectional crown for Tigers

District 6 3A Boys Sectional

TYRONE -- State College lost the PIAA Class 3A boys golf championship by one stroke last year and is likely the favorite to win it this year after returning most of its team.

But Monday at the District 6 Class 3A Sectionals at Sinking Valley Country Club, Hollidaysburg's Tyler Steiner beat all of them.

The Golden Tigers senior shot 1-under par over the final five holes at Sinking Valley -- a brutal stretch of holes -- to rally past State College's Luke McGraw and win the event with a 73.

"It definitely gives me some confidence," Steiner said. "It's nice to see that I can beat some of these guys and that I have a chance to make states this year."

Steiner made a birdie on the short par 4 at No. 14, made par on No. 15 while McGraw had to take a drop for an unplayable ball in the left woods and made double bogey and then made a bogey on the par 3 No. 16 while McGraw four-putted for another double.

That left Steiner one shot behind and both made par on No. 17 after Steiner's birdie putt stayed on the edge of the cup.

Both had tree issues after their drives on No. 18, but Steiner pitched his ball under a branch and it ended up a few feet behind the flagstick on the back of the green. McGraw hit his shot into the left sand bunker.

"I didn't really have a shot to stick it onto the green," Steiner said. "I was just trying to hit a little punch and roll it up onto the front. It ended up rolling through the bunker and working out for me. Usually I don't check (the leaderboard), but today I felt more comfortable and decided to check the standings. I just kept trying to play my game and see what would happen."

Steiner made his birdie putt and McGraw made bogey to finish in a tie with teammate Luke Larido for second place with a 74.

"I'm really happy with the results today," Hollidaysburg coach Bryan James said. "I don't think there's a more deserving kid than Tyler. He's a great kid. He works really hard. We're all proud of him, but honestly, I'm not really all that surprised."

In addition to winning the sectional, Steiner earned a trip to next Tuesday's District 6 Class 3A championship, also at the Sinking Valley Country Club.

"I wasn't too worried about this," Steiner said. "You just have to make the top 10 and not worry about what's in front of you. You need to just play your game and see what the outcome is."

Golden Tiger teammates Mason Bender and Landen Petrunak finished tied for ninth with a score of 78 and also advanced to the District 6 meet.

"I'm very proud," James said. "Landen has been on the team for four years, and this is the first year that he really got to play in a lot of events. He really put the time in over the summer. Mason loves golf, and it's a good thing to see that the hard work he's put in over the last several years is coming to fruition for him as well."

Bender made a birdie on his final hole to clinch a spot at districts.

State College won the team championship, but it was much closer than many expected, 301-309, over Hollidaysburg -- which also advanced to the District 6 championship as a team. Sam McLanahan's 80 also counted for the Golden Tigers' score.

"These guys are good at seizing the moment," James said. "There is no one out here that's going to give them a chance against State College. They don't care. They do the best they can. I have asked them all year to give their best, and now we have good things happening. It's a mental game as well as a physical game, and they are a mature team."

Altoona did not qualify any golfers for the District 6 championships. Reese Hite was the Mountain Lions' top finisher with an 82 and tied for 14th, but he was hurt by a tough putting performance on No. 12 and being forced to go back and re-tee during an eight on No. 14.

"Our senior Reese Hite started slowly but finished the year strong," Altoona coach Chuck Meyers said. "He was inside the cut line for a bit today. His brother Brandt shot 37 on the back nine. He made one big number on the front. Cole Civiello really came on as the year went on. He qualified for Wheeling and improved a lot. A lot of guys got better. Two of our better players are 10th graders and will be back."

TEAM RESULTS (TOP TWO ADVANCE)

1, State College (SC) 301; 2, Hollidaysburg (H) 309; 3, Altoona (A) 343; 4, Central Mountain (CM) 347; 5, Bellefonte (B) 363; 6, Mifflin County (MC) 370.

TOP 25 INDIVIDUAL RESULTS (TOP 10 & TIES ADVANCE)

1, Steiner, H, 73; T-2, McGraw, SC, 74; T-2, L. Larido, SC, 74; 4, Sun, SC, 75; 5, Rioux, SC, 76; T-6, Hoskins, SC, 77; T-6, Karstetter, CM, 77; T-9, C. Larido, SC, 78; T-9, Bender, H, 78; T-9, Petrunak, H, 78; 12, McLanahan, H, 80; 13, Breon, MC, 81; T-14, Miller, SC, 82; T-14, R. Hite, A, 82; T-14, Felosky, Johnstown, 82; T-17, Kobal, Johnstown, 83; T-17, B. Hite, A, 83; 19, Johnston, H, 84; 20, Aiken, A, 85; 21, Fravel, CM, 86; 22, Davis, B, 87; 23, Pfeffer, A, 88; T-24, Burkhardt, Johnstown, 89; T-25, Colm, B, 89.